Midnight • (Zayn Malik)

the city : epilogue

Thick, fat snowflakes clung to the faux fur that warmed my body as I walked among the bikers and businessmen. It was a long, yet creatively uplifting day at work but all I wanted to do was go home. The thought of Peia and Tiger curled up on a certain black jean clad lap as he snoozed by the fire kept me warm for the cold journey back. I smiled at how tired he always was from working in his shop even though he got off no later than six everyday. Not that he even had to stay that long (he owned the place). He just loved his work as much as I did.

My cold hands trembled as I slipped my leather gloves off to get my keys and I ended up making quite a raucous opening the door. A lazy smile and squinted specks of golden amber met me as soon as I looked up and it was moments like these that I couldn't begin to absorb how amazing my life was. I brushed the snow off of my fur coat and hung it up on the antique coat stand, leaving my gloves and heeled patent boots to thaw on the floor as I walked into the living room.

Zain motioned like a child with his hands for me to sit on his lap- without squishing the cats of course. He took my face in his hand and kissed me lazily then mumbled a question of which the only two words I could really make out were "work" and "love".

I ran my frosted fingers through Peia's soft white fur as I spoke, "It was good. Everything's really coming together for the show. Bea and I worked through not having the physical models there pretty well and I put the finishing touches on the screen display and stage decor and lights and shit. Piper is already sketching new designs for spring."

He brushed my hair behind my ear, "Miss the silver on snowy days like today..."

I touched the ends of my shoulder length dark brown hair and fixed my bangs a little, "Those crazy high school days are behind me."

Zain snorted, "Yeah 'kay... but that's wicked behb but also like how come you never do the sketchin' anymore? You know you could draw circles around those totties."

I laughed at his way of complimenting me, "I dunno, I guess it just reminds me of my intern days. Drawing has always been for me and I hated that part of my job. Not the sketching, just the fact that I did it for someone else and for money."

He smiled and rubbed his hand absently over my cold, fishnet covered knee, "S'where you and I differ I suppose. I'm glad you only draw for you then... and sometimes me."

Tiger got up and plopped in my lap just then. He usually got jealous whenever I was petting Peia instead of him.

"How'd that dove turn out for um... Chessie was it? I remember you whining like the baby you are about it yesterday."

He snickered a bit and rubbed my nose as he talked, "I'm your baby," I rolled my eyes, "but em yeah it went jus swell I'd say."

His arms were behind his head and he had that infamous smirk on his face like he always did after he was able to outdo himself despite weeks of doubt.

"Let's see it then," I challenged.

Right away his phone screen opened straight to the photo as if he had been waiting for me to say those words. I gently took it from him and critiqued his work.

"The shading could use some improvement yes, hm... clever use of blue, uh huh but that white will definitely fade-"

I was cut off by Zain squeezing my sides and tickling me. The cats jumped off in anger at our little battle that ended up with me pinned to the floor and Zain telling me to fook off and that he was the one that went to bloody tattoo school or whatev r'it's called. My laughter quickly fizzled out like the fire next to us with Zain so close in proximity to me.